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30 June: Hoi Ann

We had had some early mornings and late evenings the past few days and decided to sleep in late, only rising at 09h30, only to wake up with the cold water of the swimming pool. After the swim we enjoyed an omelet with bread, the bread was not toast but rather like a French footlong. We spent the rest of the morning applying for work and researching other affairs, before swimming again. Heading down the road we found Hi Tailor shop, we had been advised by friends that if we wanted to make clothes this would be the place to make it. The previous evening we compared some prices of different shops to get an idea of the costs. Henry, the English accountant that we met in Chiang Mai, had given us reasonable costs, also being an avid haggler, the prices were very good and we used this while haggling with Hi. In the end we got the price of a suit down from $60 to $40, even less than what he paid. We bought 3 suits each ($40), 5 formal work shirts ($12), 6 dresses ($20), 2 tops ($10) and a suede jacket ($50), all in all $490! a lot I know, but have them made in RSA and look at the costs. The whole process of looking through catalogs, haggling on what to make and the prices, getting measured and choosing the material took from 12h00 to 16h30.

We had overspent our time a little as we had agreed to meet our NZ friends at 18h00 the usual place. We walked briskly to the river side, where we found them. Ordering beers and getting the chairs, we sat down once again for another 2 hours, watching life going on around us and discussing our different experiences and listening to their their accumulated ones.

At around 20h00, all of us were experiencing hunger pains and they decided to follow us to our street find of the previous evening to enjoy another Cao Lao dish each. This was followed by their cold tee which accompanies each dish free of charge. After supper we headed up the street where I purchased a footlong with the strangest selection of fillings, don't ask me what meat, I have no idea. Also some fruit. Back home, we enjoyed a swim before going back to our room to devour one of the mango's, a little more bitter than sweet.